Health officials in Brazil are currently monitoring two people for possible Ebola infections. One suspected patient, a 37-year-old man from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), who began exhibiting symptoms such as fever, São Paulo’s state government said.
The other case is in Rio de Janeiro. These two cases are in Brazil’s two largest cities, sparking concern for the country.
The test results for both patients should become available next week. If confirmed, they would be the first cases of infection outside Africa since the outbreak began in the DR Congo, according to a BBC report.
There are now more than 1,000 suspected Ebola cases in DR Congo, with at least 246 deaths. Uganda has reported nine confirmed cases and one death.
The current outbreak has been caused by a rare strain of Ebola known as Bundibugyo, which has no proven vaccine and kills about a third of those infected. –BBC
On Saturday, the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warned that the rapid spread of the virus had caused an “alarming situation”, with an unprecedented number of cases recorded so soon into the outbreak.
This outbreak has spread rapidly without any reasonable level of containment yet. However, despite the possible cases of the virus outside Africa, the World Health Organization has repeatedly stressed that its global spread is highly unlikely.
WHO Chief Swears Ebola Outbreak “Can Be Stopped”
WHO head Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is continuing a visit to DR Congo’s Ituri province, the worst-hit area, where he is overseeing containment efforts. He maintains that this outbreak can be slowed and stopped, but difficulties have arisen thanks to warring factions in outbreak areas.
Current Ebola Outbreak Continues To Worsen, Worrying Health Officials
Uganda has also closed its borders to the DR Congo as suspected cases rise sharply.
Uganda Closes Borders To DRC As Suspected Ebola Cases Are Now Over 1000
According to statistics shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on May 29, the DRC Ministry of Health updated its total suspect case count to remove suspected cases that have been ruled out after investigation and suspected deaths that are pending the results of ongoing investigation.
As of May 31st, in the DR Congo, there have been 282 confirmed cases and 42 confirmed deaths, with 220 suspected cases.
*This story is updating rapidly, and we will do our best to share the information available.